Shloka 8
Karṇa’s Counsel on Śrī
Fortune) and the Proposed Display before the Exiled Pāṇḍavas (कर्णवचनम् / श्रीप्रदर्शन-प्रस्तावः
अचिन्तयन्ममेदं ये रूप॑ द्रक्ष्यन्ति कानने । ते ब्राह्मणीनामनृतं दोषं॑ वक्ष्यन्ति पावक,तत्पश्चात् उसने कुछ सोचकर कहा--'अग्निकुलनन्दन!” जो लोग वनमें मेरे इस रूपको देखेंगे वे ब्राह्मण-पत्नियोंको झूठा दोष लगायेंगे
acintayan mamedaṁ ye rūpaṁ drakṣyanti kānane | te brāhmaṇīnām anṛtaṁ doṣaṁ vakṣyanti pāvaka ||
Tras reflexionar, dijo Mārkaṇḍeya: «Oh Pāvaka (Agni), quienes contemplen esta forma mía en el bosque acusarán de mentira a las esposas de los brahmanes. Así, por lo que se vea, recaerá sobre ellas una culpa inmerecida.»
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethically, the verse highlights how mere appearances can generate unjust accusations; one should guard against imputing falsehood or fault to the innocent, and consider the social harm caused by misinterpretation.
Mārkaṇḍeya, addressing Agni as Pāvaka, foresees that if people in the forest see his present form, they will conclude that the Brahmins’ wives lied and will blame them; he voices concern about the wrongful reproach that would follow.